Dear Tidyish, Random question: I have old photos that smell bad. (Dad smoked and there’s just that “old smell.”) What do you think? Do you have any ideas for my dilemma? -Jill S. Dear Jill, First off- I’ve wanted to be an advice columnist since I read my very first Dear Abby in the mid-80s. Read more
Today’s post is brought to you by the gorgeously gunk-free HÄNS Swipe-Clean. (Here’s where to buy ’em. Trust me- you’ll want this info by the end.) Although I’m compensated, all thoughts, opinions, and gratefully sanitized devices are entirely my own. ***** It’s no secret that I really, really love small cleaning gadgets and tools. And Read more
Sure, it’d be great to have an HGTV team pop in and overhaul a room when your space just isn’t bringing the happy anymore, but try these quick tricks to tidy high-traffic areas and change the feel of a space…without the production crew budget. Tidy tip #1: Feather your nest Crisp new sheets, softly scented Read more
Oh, timely. Need some indoor natural air fresheners- and freshening? Got you here. Absolutely thrilled- for many, many reasons- to be working with this month’s sponsor: Hello Freshies! Although I’ve been compensated, all thoughts, opinions, and odor-free closets are entirely my own. (Hallelujah.) I seriously love winter- at least the nesting and snuggling parts. The Read more
Cold & flu hitting your house hard? Hit back with these tried n’ true, oh-so natural, and way affordable tools you definitely have at home. 1 Hydrogen Peroxide: While there’s a time and place for deep down Clorox dousin’ (and that time, usually during cold & flu spikes or immediately after someone has thrown up Read more
Everyone knows that scents are a game-changer. (The olfactory function is the one closest related to emotion and memory, after all!) And sometimes- just sometimes- when your get up and go has taken a hike, the right household smells can get you back on track. Take a breather (and get out the bad scents) Unless Read more
In honor of my birthday, I’d like to present YOU a present: a one minute apiece cheat sheet of my absolute favorite ways to feel like your home is clean n’ organized n’ smelling nice…without having to spend the entire day cleaning n’ organizing n’ spritzing nice-smelling stuff on stuff. Happy birthday to us all. Read more
Small effort, huge impact: That’s absolutely my motto these days. You may not think that 10 minutes are enough to substantially change the look and feel of a home…but I promise that each completed task is akin to a breath of fresh air. (And lest you think I’m just tossing out random ideas- I tried Read more
(I was so tempted to name this post “Dumpster Diving with Keely,” but figured that was bad for the SEO…so, “restore secondhand treasures” it is!) Have you ever spied a piece that you just knew was a diamond in the rough? Here in Chicago, our alleys are a way station of sorts for pieces not exactly Read more
Today’s vinegar-happy post should be subtitled “We’re not reinventing the wheel, here, so why are some of these so surprising?” But these really do fall into the trifecta of my very favorite kinds of cleaning tips: Chemical-Free, Crazy Effective, and Probably Already In Your Household. So without further delay, may I present: My 5 fave Read more
